A Muntjac Deer was found dead by the side of Harpenden Road opposite the entrance to the old Fire Station. Both sides of the road are wooded near this area and probably provide cover for these animals., although one has been spotted running at speed along Waverley Road.

They are 10 – 18 Kg in weight and can do considerable damage in a collision with a car, particularly in this area where speeding is commonplace. Being avid browsers they can also cause a lot of damage in gardens and to trees.

A well planned act of wanton destruction took place on the path between Spinney Cottage and Harpenden Road last Thursday or Friday, 23rd/24th August. A fence that was recently repaired was taken apart and sawn up to make a ramp for people on bikes. It is very dangerous.

If you saw any activity in this area, we would like to hear from you (use FoBH Mail in the side bar). Any witness responding will not have their name divulged to anyone other than the police.

The wood and ramp has now been removed (6/9/18)

In very dry weather the grass of Verulamium Park shows clear signs of the Roman buildings below the surface. Bernards Heath, not to be outdone, has its own version, but indicating more recent history. The marks in the recent hot spell could not have been clearer (See ground level below and Google aerial photo, the latter taken before the marks had fully developed).

Beech Bottom Dyke is a striking mile long Iron Age earthwork, linked to Shakespeare’s King Cymbeline, and set in an ancient area of commons called “Bernards Heath”. It is unpublicised and lacks interpretation – except for this guided walk.

This walk forms one of St Albans Heritage Open Days events and will take place on Sunday, 9th September 2018. More details can be found here

The local 19th century water colourist Henry Buckingham depicted this scene at Beech Bottom Dyke in 1859 when rifle training was given. At that time there was a threat of a possible invasion from France.
(by kind permission of St Albans Museum).

If you have a garden, then you’re probably getting anxious about the lack of rain – well the Heath could do with rain too. Just one look at the grass tells all. We record rainfall and temperature very close to the Heath and the table above shows that only 1 mm fell during the month of June. There was a similar rainfall of just 1.5 mm in April last year.